Coin-assorter.



Patented Jan. 16, 1917.

4 EEEEEEEEEEEE l W. E. HARKNESS.

C O l N A S S O R T E R,

DDDDDDDDDD 1915.

w. E. HARKNESS.

COIN ASSORTER.

APPLICATION HLED 02031. I915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wi tmvzoo akto'anmg W. E. HARKNESS.

com ASSORTER.

FILE

APPLICATION D DEC-3|. 1915- 121221 5,

v 4 SHEET SSHEET 3.

Patented Jan. 16, 1917.

UNITED srnrnsmranr orrion f WILLIAM E. HARKNESS, OFMARION, OHIO.

GOIN-ASSORTER.

Specification of Letters Patent. P t nted J an, 16, 1 917.

Ap li'aaon ii December 31,1915. Serial N70. 69,690. a

To all whom it mag/concern X Be it known that I, WILLI M E, H nan- NES S, a citizen ofthe United States of America, residing at Marion, in the'county of Marion and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Coin- As sorters, of which the following is a specification. v This invention relates tocoin assorters.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a mechanism 'th'at is adapted to receive and direct the course ,of travel of a conglomeration of coins of difi erentsiaes ancldenominations and whichcan be .ma-

nipulated to force the differentsizesor specific denominations'to be subjected to a sitting and sliding operation by means of vhich the difierent siz es or denominations of the coins are made to travel in specific and well defined courses tothe terminal of each course at which pointthey are deposited or dropped into separate and removable receptacle, h a a A further object of this invention is to construct the paths of the courses by means of a series of: separate and perforated plates,

and arranging them in'spaced and overlap V ping relation with respect ,to eaclrother so that, when the coins in their travel reach the terminals ofeach plate which are located above and at' pre-determined points along the path of the courses, they, will be precipitated upon the next succeedinglower plate and by the impact, tumbling and jarring caused by the dropping of the coins thereon, they will be assisted to separate from each other provided,, -they have ad,- hered to each other priorto being precipitated upon the lower plate.

V A furtherobject is to provide means of assembling and maintaining the separate plates, in the above describedrelation' by fitting them to a series of inclined, progressive kerfs formed in spacedrelation to each other, around a pivotally hung'supporting member.

Another object is to forin the plates.

that they will counteract the tendency of the ooins from being thrown outward and rearward from the center of the pathsof the "courses,,by their centrifugal force, when the mechanism is being operated to perform the sitting: and sliding functions; in assorting the coins and means integral with each plate to positively maintain overlapping ends of the plates from contact with eachfother. H j 1 Another feature ofthis invention comprises a means of imparting .aslight, rising and falling, vertical movement to the supporting, member that has the efi'ectof vibratlngor shaking the coins thereby assisting in separating them from; each-other and giving impetus to them to force themto slide overthe paths of the courses more readily and means of abruptly jarring the assorting mechanism. I

,Another feature of this invention is to provide suitable means. onfthe bottom of the coin assorter, to direct each different size of the coinsreceivedfrom a, specific; course, through a particular aperture or slot formed in the bottom of the coin assortenrwhereby the differentsizes of coinsare dropped or deposited in segregated and removable receptacles. 1 me .Other features of this invention consist in the method of receiving and guidingthe a the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: a V a Figure 1, is aside elevation of themvention, showing a portion of the casing broken away to showthe terminals of several courses, and it also shows removable receptacles attached to the bottom of the pivotally hung supportingr memberv in position to receive coins from said courses, Fig. 2, is a side elevation of the invention with part ofthe casing removed showing the an rangement of the inclined kerfs which are formed in thesupporting 'member, the

means of imparting an oscillating rotary,

vibrating and jarring movement to the mechanism, and one serles of platesin their overlapping progressive and spaced relation which forms one coursefor the travel 'of a,

specific denomination or size of a coin, also fragmentary side view of the supporting member taken at right angles to Fig. 3 showing the inclined relation of the chute with respect to the-first plate and several succeeding plates arranged around the supporting member 1n progressive relation to each other. Fig. 5, is a top plan view of the invention showing the supporting member, a' chute, and a series of plates mounted in the inclined kerfs and arranged in cooperative spaced and overlapping relation to form a specific course for coins of one size, around the supporting member. Fig. 6, is an inverted plan view of the bottom plate ofthe supporting member which is attached thereto and provided with a series of slots, a holding and supporting means for the removable receptacles, and an operating lever for the assorting mechanism. Fig. 7, is a sectional view taken on the line a2w of Fig. 6. V

In the drawings, reference numeral 1 represents a base, 2 a vertical boss having a central aperture 3 formed therein into which a vertical'rod 1 is fitted and secured. The rod 4: is provided with a tapered end 5. A supporting member 6 has a block 7 secured to the top thereof and is provided with a tapered bearing 8 which is located directly over an aperture formed through the central portion of the supporting member to receive the vertical rod 1. The tapered end 5 of the rod is journaled in the tapered bearing 8 of the block 7 thereby providing means of pivotally hanging the supporting member upon the end of the vertical rod. A plurality of series of-inclined kerfs 9 are formed in or arranged around the vertical exterior of thesupporting member in spaced, overlapping and progressive relation from each other.- A plurality of series of plates 10 are fitted to the kerfs 9 thereby forming a plurality of courses around the supporting member. The plates forming the first five courses are preferably perforated and the plates of the sixth course imperforate. The

plates are all arranged'around the supporting member as follows to wit: the first is the dollar course, the second the. half-dollar course, the third the quarter course, the

fourth thenickel course, the fifth the penny course and thesixth the dime course. This arrangement is shown in Fig. 3 the first plate of each course being numbered respectively 1l-12-l31l15 and 16.

A chute 17 is secured to the block 7 at an incline to the supporting member and its mouth extends above and is alined with the first plate 11 of the first course. A bottom plate 18 which conforms and coincides with the exterior outlines of the plates forming the various courses is secured to the bottom of the supporting member, and it is provided with a series or plurality of vertical slots 19 which are arranged at pre-determined points around the supporting member. A casing 20 is fitted around the exterior of the bottom plate and a sound deadening lining 21 is interposed therebetween. A top 22 having a funnel 23 is provided for the casing and the mouth of the funnel is located directly over the top of the chute 17. The above described arrangement of the casing, top and bottom plate entirely incloses the plates forming the several courses, and the supporting member. Each one of the courses is made to terminate at predetermined points around the supporting member before the paths thereof reach the bottom plate Which leaves a gap between the terminals of the courses and their respective slots in the bottom plate and said gaps are bridged to form a continuous path, to the slots by the imperforate plates 21 which have their ends 25 down-turned and fastened to the bottom plate adjacent to one side of the slots. Stop or guiding plates 26 are fastened to the bottom adjacent to the opposite sides of the slots thereby forming vertical guide passageways in line with the vertical slots and contiguous with the path of the courses.

An operating lever 27 is fastened to the bottom plate 1 of the supporting member and is provided with an eye 28 which loosely fits the vertical rod 4. Members 29 which are provided with enlarged heads 30 are secured to the bottom plate on each side and in front of the slots and a spring catch 31 is arranged at the opposite ends of the slots as shown in Fig. 6. Receptacles 32 are provided with rectangular open wire frames 38, and these are attached to the mouth of the receptacles. The frames are adapted to slidably engage and be supported upon the enlarged heads 30 of the members 29, the rear portions of the wire frames being forced to yieldingly engage the spring catches thereby yieldingly locking the receptacles in their normal positions which is directly underneath the slots. A portion of the top face of the boss 2 is cut away at 34: leaving the equivalent of a gear tooth 35. The gear tooth is adapted to contact with a downwardly depending tapered pin 36 which is attached to the operating lever 27 riding thereover and thereby imparting a slight rising and falling vertical movement to the supporting member and the mechanism carried thereby, when an oscillating rotary movement is imparted to saidmechanism, by the manipulation of the operating lever 27. To maintain the overlapping ends of the plates positively in spaced relation from each other to prevent possible wedging of the coins between the plates, spacing members37 are provided, upon which the preceding plate rests. The spacing mem bers are preferably made integral with the underlying plates. A portion of each side of the plates adjacent to one end is provided with a flange 38 to prevent the coins from being thrown off the plates by their centrifugal force, when an oscillating rotary movement is impartedto the assorting mechanism by manipulation of the operating lever 27. In order to limit the oscillating rotary movement of the assorting mechanism while itis being transported, a chain 39 is attached to the boss 1' and the'end 40 of the operatinglever. The ends 451 of the plates are curved to direct thetravel of the coins inwardly toward the supporting member as they slide therefrom and are precipitated upon the nextsucceeding plate.

Attention is called to the fact that the number of courses formed by plates can be increased or decreased by changing the height of the supporting member. The number of plates used can be varied and their form changed or other immaterial changes made in the structure and arrangement of the parts'without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Attention is called to the fact that the present application and drawings shows and describes a coin assorter that is designed to assort six difierent sizes or denominations of coins which is the preferred type, but it is obvious that the number of difierent sizes of coins to be assorted can be varied by a slight change in the structure.

The operation of the coin asserting mechanism is 'as follows: The travel of only one size coin or. denomination will be described as the travel along the paths of the various courses of the different denominations or sizes of coins in the sliding, sifting and separating operation are identicallythe same and the functions performed by the as sorting mechanism in separating the diifen, ent' coins are also identical. Referringnow to Fig. 2 the operator pours amixed mass of coins in the funnel 23 and they drop upon" the chute l7 sliding therefrom'by gravity upon, the first plate of the first course 11 which course retains the coins of largest size or dollar denomination. A large'num'-' her of thesmall sized coins drop down immediately through the perforations of the next" succeeding plates until they reach a plate'of a specific course thathasperfora- .tionsthat are-not large enough to permit specific sizes of coins" to drop throughf lVhen the coins are deposited on the plates which have perforations of less sizethan said coins, the coins then start to slide by gravity over all the'inclinedplates forming the perforated path of theirspecific course. The operator of the coin assorting mechanism then grasps the operating lever 27 and imparts an oscillating rotary movement thereto which in turn partially rotates the supporting member and the coin assorting mechanism'carried thereby. As the handle is moved back and forth the pin 36 contacts with the gear tooth 35 and the pin travels up and over said geartoothl imparting a slight rising and falling movement to the supporting member which carries the coin assorting mechanism. The extent of the oscillating movement of the operatinglevei 27 is regulated by the wallsA and B of the cut away portion which providesstops to contact with the pin 36, and'the pin also provides means of arring or vibrating the assorting mechanism at the end of each stroke of the operating lever. The slight" rising and falling vertical movement im parted to the supporting member andits' mechanism vibrates and jars the mechanism thereby assisting in separating the coins if perchance any of them should adhere to each other and accelerates the sliding movement of the coins along the perforated pathsfof the courses in a separate relation from each other. When the operator imparts an os cillating rotary movement to the operating lever the coins are forcedto slide by gravity along the perforated paths of the course-s around the supportingmember and when" the coins in their travel reach the end of each plate forming the paths of the courses they drop or tumble by gravity from the curved end 41 upon the neXt succeeding plate of the course and the impact thereon assists in separating them from each other and givingimpetusto the travel during the sifting. and separating operations. It will be observed that the ends of each plate are in spaced relationfromthenext succeeding plate thereby interrupting the continuity of the perforated paths of the various courses and when specific sizes of coins reach the,

terminals of their courses they are depo's ited' upon the guiding means or path which bridges the gap between the ends" of the terminals and the vertical slots. said slots being arranged in direct coinmunic'ation with the mouths of the removable receptacles which are adapted to receive pre-deten.

'mined sp'ecific sizes or denominations of coins. As the coins f travel'jaround their specific courses'and reach" thecurved ends 41 of the plates they 'are carried inwardly by the curved ends toward thesupportiiig member thereby -,co aeraeung the centrifu j gal force of the coins when tlie'coiii assert ing mechanism is being operated, and the flanges 38 prevent the coins from being thrown off the plates (forming the courses) by the centrifugal force thereof, when the coin asserting mechanism is being operated as described above; In manipulating the lever 27 to impart an oscillating rotary movement to the coin asserting mechanism a slight jerking movement is preferable.

As the coins travel around their various courses they are prevented from being wedged between the overlapping ends of the plates because of the spacing members 37 -which positively hold them spaced apart from each other at all times and under all circumstances. When the operator is imparting movement to the coin asserting mechanism the coinscontinue to slide over the perforated paths continuously until they reach by the sifting operation their particuhandle C and withdraws a specific removable receptacle'from itsv supporting means, empties the receptacle of its contents and then replaces it to receive another charge of coins from its specific course. The terminals and bridging means can be arranged at any point most convenient in the construction of the asserting mechanism.

What I claim is': V

1. In a coin assorter, a supporting mem ber having a plurality of series of inclined kerfs arranged around the exterior surface thereof in angular progressive relation with respect to each other, a plurality of series of perforated plates fitted to said kerfs in overlapping relation to each other forming separate courses, means made integral with the plates to prevent the overlapping IJOI'tlOIlS from contacting with each other, and a single series of imperforateplates also forming a course around the supporting member.

2. In a coin assorter, a supporting member having a pluralityof series of inclined kerfs arrangedfaround the exterior surface thereof in angular progressive relation with respect to "each other, a plurality ofseries of perforated plates fitted to said kerfs in overlapping relation with each other forming separate courses, means made integral withfthe platesto prevent the overlapping portions from contacting with each other, a

3 single series ofimperforate plates also formfrom contacting with each other, a single 5".

series of imperforate plates also forming a course around the supporting member, an inclosing casing-for said plates, a bottom se cured to the casing which is provided with a series of slots, guiding means forming a continuity of thepaths of the courses from the terminals thereof to the slots in the bottom of the casing. V

a; In a coin assorter, a supporting member having a plurality of series of inclined :j

kerfs arranged around the exterior surface thereof in angular and progressive relation with respect to each other, a plurality of perforated plates fitted to said kerfs in overlapping relation to each other forming separate courses, means made integral with the plates to prevent the overlapping portions from contacting with each other, a single series of imperforate plates also forming a course around the supporting member, an

inclosing casing for said plates, a bottom secured to the supporting member which is provided with a series of slots, guiding means forming a continuity of the paths of the courses from the terminals thereof to the slots in the bottom of the casing, and separate receptacles removably attached in alinement with and underneath said slots.

5. In a coin assorter, a pivotally hung supporting member provided with a plurality of series of inclined kerfs arranged and secured in spaced, angular and progressive relation with respect to each other around the exterior of the supporting member, a

plurality of series of perforated plates fitted to said kerfs to overlap each other and form a plurality of separate courses the continuity of the paths thereof being interrupted because of the spaced relation of the plates with respect to each other.

6. In a coin assorter, a pivotally hung supporting member," in combination with a series of perforated plates having one of their sides upturned adjacent to one end and their opposite ends curved; said plates being arranged at an incline, in spaced and overlapping relation around the supporting member to form a course and means integral with the plates to maintain their overlapping portions spaced apart rigidly and posi- 31 tively from each other, and means to impart a vibrating or jarring movement to' the mechanism. 7

7. In a coin assorter, a casing, means of supporting the casing to permit vertical and gyratory movement, a series of plates arranged around said supporting means forming separate inclined courses, each plate of said series being spaced apart with respect to the other and a hopper arranged to feed coins to the initial plate of the first course.

8. In a coin assorter, a casing, means for supporting the casing to permit vertical and rotary movement thereof, and a series of plates arranged in similar parallel courses, the plates of each course being progressively inclined from the horizontal, throughout the length of the course and following a circular path throughout the course, the plates of each course being arranged in superimposed relation vertically of the casing and formed respectively with openings of different sizes, the plates of each course presenting a series of lapped sections vertically spaced at their lapped terminals and means carried by the lower section to engage and support the upper section.

9. A coin assorter including a base, a casing supported for movement on the base, a plurality of spirally arranged separated and spaced apart plates disposed within the casing, each forming an independent coin course, a plurality of receptacles removably carried by the casing above the base, and

means for directing the coin from each course into a particular receptacle, and means to feed the coins to the initial course.

10. A coin assorter including a casing, a plurality of spirally disposed plate sections arranged within the casing and forming independent coin courses, a base, means carried by the base for rotatably engaging the casing above the uppermost plates, an operating member carried by the casing, and a projection depending therefrom, the base being formed with spaced recesses to alternately and successively receive the projection whereby the casing may be rotated and simultaneously reciprocated.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM E. HARKNESS.

Witness SAMUEL S. MATTHES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

